Portugal: Not Reported

Marine Conservation Institute, recognizing the need for more and better ocean protection, is leading a major initiative to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Launched in 2017, the Global Ocean Refuge System is an innovative strategy to incentivize decision makers to establish protected areas that safeguard marine life and promote opportunities for sustainable tourism. Learn more about the program at globaloceanrefuge.org

Portugal acquired and designated the Ilhas Selvagens (Selvagen Islands in English) and surrounding maritime zone as a reserve in 1971. The islands harbor one of the last intact marine ecosystems in the North Atlantic, including diverse habitats such as mudflats, coves and shallow bays.

The Ilhas Selvagens are influenced by the general circulation of superficial currents of the North Atlantic. As a result, the archipelago plays a fundamental role in the larval dispersal of species from many geographical origins and may aid the colonization of new areas.

The Ilhas Selvagens protected area is important for numerous IUCN red listed species, including white-faced storm petrels, fin whales, loggerhead sea turtles, and sperm whales. It also supports three commercially important fish species: dusky grouper, island grouper and barred hogfish. In an archipelago comparison study between Madeira and the Ilhas Selvagens, the reserve demonstrated more robust and diverse benthic algal communities and higher fish biomass. It also supports 216 confirmed species of mollusks, with at least 6 species being endemic to the area.

Management of the Ilhas Selvagens lists six strategic objectives aimed at achieving protection and conservation for the area: preserve, improve, and protect all ecosystems; promote, coordinate and support research aimed at improving the knowledge of species and habitats; improve support and knowledge of the general public regarding the conservation site and maintain international appreciation of the conservation value of the site; manage tourism to add value without diminishing its conservation value; improve the legal conditions for a more efficient site management; and manage the site effectively under the guidelines.

The Global Ocean Refuge System (GLORES) is a Marine Conservation Institute initiative working to build a global network of effective marine protected areas to save ocean wildlife. In 2018, GLORES grew to include 10 blue parks around the world.

The Savage Islands are a small Archipelago belonging to the Madeira autonomous region. They mark the southernmost point of Portugal and lay 280 kilometres south-southeast of Madeira and 165 kilometres north of the Canaries. The archipelago consists of two areas, the Northeast and the Southwest group. The Northeast group is composed of Selvagem Grande (the largest of the islands) and three surrounding islets (Sinho Islet, Palheiro do Mar and Palheiro da Terra). The island of Selvagem Pequena, Ilhéu de Fora and a number of small to tiny islets surrounding them form the Southwest Group. Typical for Macaronesian islands, the Savage Islands were formed by volcanic activity and shaped by erosion and sedimentation.

Thanks to their reputation of being pirate treasure islands, several treasure hunters have tried their luck to recover gold and other valuables, but without success…

Through history, several attempts of colonising the islands were made. After being owned privately for a long time, the Portuguese government acquired the islands in 1971 and turned them into a Nature Reserve making it the oldest Portuguese nature reserve. Today a Portuguese family inhabits the islands (known as “the guardians of the Savages”), as well as a permanent team of wardens from Instituto das Florestas e Conservação da Natureza and a maritime police force.

The marine protected area (MPA) includes all the landmasses of the islands and the surrounding waters up to a depth of 200 meters. In this MPA commercial and recreational fishing are prohibited.

It was designated a natural reserve in 1971, recognizing its role as a very important
nesting
point for several species of birds. Since then, the decreasing bird populations (namely
Cory's shearwater
) and nearby waters have been more closely protected by the Portuguese government. Given its status, remoteness and few fresh water sources, it is inhabited only by reserve staff, scientists conducting research on its wildlife, a Portuguese family and a small
Portuguese Navy
detachment.
[7]
In May 2016, a
National Geographic Society
scientific expedition prompted the extension of the marine reserve.

Contacts & Resources

Data Sources

Original data record from World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) via ProtectedPlanet.net [view record on site].